Unfortunately, instead of simply being able to use the wake word "Alexa" before launching into a query, like the Amazon Echo, Fire TV owners are required to press the microphone button on the remote, or within the companion app on iOS and Android.

Admittedly, that's not quite as convenient as the Amazon Echo.

However Fire TV Stick and Fire TV customers will still be able to take advantage of a number of Alexa's capabilities.

Amazon Echo – Things you MUST ask Alexa right now Mon, January 30, 2017

Amazon's Echo speaker has plenty of tricks up its sleeve but we bet you didn't know you could ask Alexa this

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Things to ask Amazon's Alexa

Customers will be able to ask Alexa to answer general knowledge queries, get updates on the news and weather, check the status of their commute, get sports scores, create shopping lists, play music, change your central heating settings, order a car from Uber or a takeaway from Just Eat, and more.

Amazon describes its new user interface as a "cinematic experience", with trailers and screenshots from shows and films embedded directly into the menus.

The updated Fire TV interface also supports a customisable apps list, which should make it much easier to access the apps and games you use most frequently.

Vice President of Amazon Devices International, Jorrit Van der Meulen said: "This is a big day for Fire TV customers.

"Not only are we shipping a new Fire TV Stick – a faster and more powerful successor to our fastest-selling UK device ever –we’re also rolling Alexa out to every single Fire TV device in the UK.

"This will allow millions more customers to access Alexa, meaning they can get answers to questions, use Alexa skills, manage their smart home, or even find things to watch and control playback, just by asking."

AMAZON

The latest update comes alongside some new hardware, the second-generation Fire TV Stick

The all-new Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote is available today for £39.99 from Amazon.

The update bringing Alexa to existing Fire TV devices will roll out to customers over the coming weeks.

The all-new Fire TV Stick is also available at Dixons Carphone, Argos, John Lewis, Tesco, Maplin and Shop Direct.